Gerard Valck. Novus Planiglobii Terrestris Per Utrumque Polum Conspectus, 1672 (1695). 53 cm x 40 cm. Contemporary color on globes, else black and white. Very good condition.

The rare world map originally engraved by Blaeu but never published by him. Valck obtained the plate around 1694 and published it in the early years of the 18th century with his own imprint (but the erased Blaeu imprint has been discerned beneath that of Valck). It is one of only a handful of 17th century polar projection world maps. Beautifully colored. Shirley No. 459.  $$$$$

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Benedetto Bordone. 1528. 38 cm x 21 cm. Black and white, excellent condition.

One of the most important early world maps. Far in advance of anything else of its time - it gives a better delineation of the New World than later maps such as the Grynaeus, the Fine, or even the Munster map of 1540. Shirley No. 59. $$$$

Apianus.   Cordiform world,  1544.  29 cm x 20 cm.  Black and white.   Very good condition. 

This is the only early world map to show a pre-1540's mapping of North America that is obtainable at a modest cost.  Though scarce, it is more readily obtainable than the Grynaeus, Vadianus, Fine, Frisius,  and Waldseemueller maps because the volume it appeared in was highly popular and produced in a large number of editions from 1544 through the 1580's.  The map is also one of the very few cordiform projections world maps obtainable.  Shirley No. 82. $$$$

W Blaeu.   Nova Totius Terrarum Orbis Geographica AC Hydrographica Tabula, 1606. 52 cm x 40 cm.  Magnificent contemporary color.

The classic Blaeu world map with figured borders, in stunning original color and excellent condition.  This map, and Blaeu's America,  are justly called the pinnacle of early decorative cartography.  Shirley.  No. 255.  $$$$$$

P. Kaerius/Jansson. Nova Totius Terrarum Orbis Geographica AC Hydrographica Tabula, 1607/1621.   52 cm x 40 cm.  Beautiful early color. 

Kaerius was strongly influenced by Blaeu and produced this world map in the Blaeu style with figured panels on all four sides,  one year after the appearance of Blaeu's map.  Kaerius' creation is equally beautiful but, because of the greater commercial success of Blaeu compared to Kaerius, the latter is many times rarer.  Indeed, on today's market, it is very seldom seen at all.  Shirley.  No. 264.  $$$$$$

Chinese/Korean Manuscript map, Chonhado (“all under heaven”) 18th century, excellent condition, 27 cm x 30 cm, original color, very good condition (excellent for this class of maps) with small repairs along folds. Very rare.

This beautiful, delicately colored and yet striking and rare world map is from a class of Chinese maps, produced both in China and Korea, that are largely based (2/3 of the place names) on the Shanghai-jing books (ca. 200 B.C.).  In fact, these maps are the only extant reflection of those books.  Beijing is the large city at the center of the map’s universe. The yell owand red seas are identifiable by their color coding.  One can see the outlines of Japan, India and the southeast Asian peninsula, Africa, Europe ans possibly even the Mediteranean. This land mass is surrounded by outer circles of islands with numerous place names, pointing towards lands outside the Old World.  Harley and Woodward, Vol. II, Book 2, pp. 256 et seq.   $$$$